“I’ve never really thought about it…”
“Wait a second. Let me think.”
Since she was allowed to make requests, she wasn’t about to be shy.
She was going to ask for something big!
Now then…
What did she need most right now?
Money?
No.
She already possessed the enormous fortune of 785 yuan and 50 cents.
If she spent it carefully, it would last her for years.
As for a bride price…
Forget it.
With Aunt Li’s stingy personality, even if the He family paid one, none of it would ever end up in her hands.
Clothes?
She did need a few thicker winter outfits.
But if she got married, surely both her father and her in-laws would buy her some new clothes.
Then it hit her.
That’s right!
What she lacked most wasn’t money
It was points.
She wanted to buy the Talent Pill.
She wanted to dance on stage.
When they were little, every time Lu Jinyun came home from dance lessons, she would deliberately show off in front of her.
While mocking Lu Jinhuan’s short legs, she’d twirl and dance around just to make her jealous.
Every single time, she ended up crying from frustration.
Once she ate the Talent Pill…
She was going to dance right in front of Lu Jinyun!
She’d prove that even girls with short legs could dance beautifully!
Thinking about it, Lu Jinhuan’s eyes sparkled.
There were far too many grievances from her childhood.
She intended to settle them…
One by one.
Hmph!
I’m very petty!
Suppressing her excitement, she looked up at the man beside her with her bright dark eyes and asked in a soft voice,
“I want to dance.”
“If I marry you…”
“Could you arrange for me to join a song-and-dance troupe?”
Although she planned to have children as soon as she got married, she could secure a position first.
After giving birth, she could simply start working.
Lu Jinyun wasn’t allowed to work after marriage.
But she could.
Then she’d proudly show herself off until Lu Jinyun cried from jealousy.
“Big Brother He…”
“Can you?”
He Congnan felt as though his heart was melting.
This little rabbit was so unbelievably adorable.
He wanted nothing more than to hurry up and make her his.
“Is that all you want?”
“A job?”
“Mhm!”
Lu Jinhuan nodded eagerly.
“Preferably a permanent position.”
“After I start working, I’d also like a ladies’ bicycle.”
“Those are my only two requests.”
There was a ladies’ bicycle at home.
It belonged to Aunt Li.
Several times she’d wanted to borrow it for a ride.
Each time Aunt Li refused, saying she was still too young and would probably lose or damage it.
Now she actually had enough money to buy one herself.
The problem was…
She didn’t have a bicycle purchase coupon.
Without the coupon, money alone couldn’t buy one.
He Congnan bent down until they were eye level.
The tenderness in his eyes was almost overflowing.
“I’m almost thirty.”
“I also have… a medical condition.”
“Are you really willing to marry me…” “…for nothing more than a job and a bicycle?”
To a family like the He’s, those requests were laughably simple.
All he had to do was say the word.
Plenty of people would gladly handle the rest.
This little girl was so pretty.
If the young men in the military compound ever saw her…
No.
He had to get her into his own household as quickly as possible.
The sudden closeness made Lu Jinhuan’s face flush bright red.
She hurriedly looked away and shrank her neck.
“B-Big Brother He…”
“I think you’ve misunderstood something.”
“Hm?”
“I came here to meet you in the first place.”
“Whether you arrange a job for me or buy me a bicycle…”
“If you decide you like me…”
“My father will still marry me to you.”
He Congnan couldn’t help laughing.
“What about you?”
“Would you only marry me because your father told you to?”
He didn’t even have to guess what the Lu family was plotting.
To him…
Their little schemes were insignificant.
Lowering her eyes, Lu Jinhuan shook her head.
“N-No.”
“I want to marry you too.”
“You’re a soldier.”
“And a pilot.”
“I really admire you.”
“And…”
“And what?”
His voice trembled ever so slightly.
His heart pounded violently.
“And…”
“You’re handsome.”
“You’re very tall.”
“You’re a little older…”
“But I think older men know how to take better care of people.”
She was only 162 centimeters tall.
He Congnan’s height balanced hers perfectly.
Their future children probably wouldn’t end up short.
The two gazed into each other’s eyes.
An intimate silence flowed naturally between them.
The faint orchid fragrance drifting from Lu Jinhuan surrounded He Congnan.
He couldn’t help inhaling it twice.
Fresh.
Elegant.
Pure.
As if untouched by the mortal world.
For a moment, he felt as though he were standing among drifting clouds, with only that lingering fragrance remaining beside him.
His voice became husky.
“So…”
“Does this mean…”
“We’re together now?”
Lu Jinhuan looked up in surprise.
The tall man before her was gazing at her with unmistakable affection.
For some reason…
She suddenly felt like a tiny rabbit being watched by a powerful predator.
She had no idea what to do.
“U-Um…”
“Then…”
“Do you have any requirements for me?”
He Congnan chuckled softly.
It was the first time in his life a woman had ever invited him to make requests.
Still…
Since the little girl had already handed him such a perfect opportunity…
Wouldn’t it be a waste not to ask for something?
“I don’t like it when you call me Commander He…”
“Or Leader He.”
“Or Officer He.”
“And I don’t like ‘Big Brother He’ either.”
“Too many people call me that.”
“I want you to call me something else.”
Lu Jinhuan thought for a moment before timidly trying,
“Brother Congnan?”
“Brother Nan?”
“Or…”
“Congnan?”
Every version sounded incredibly soft.
Sweet.
Adorable.
Her voice really was wonderful…
If she whispered his name like that somewhere more private…
“…Brother Congnan.”
“Let’s go with that.”
The smile on He Congnan’s face became impossible to suppress.
He had never felt so satisfied.
“Come on.”
“Let’s head to the restaurant.”
As he spoke, he reached over and caught hold of her sleeve.
Then he gently pulled her hand out from inside it and enclosed it within his own large hand.
His palm was burning hot.
The warmth startled Lu Jinhuan so badly she almost jumped.
“B-Brother Congnan…”
“T-This doesn’t look appropriate…”
“Maybe you should let go?”
Instead, He Congnan tightened his grip.
Her hand felt boneless.
So soft that it made his heart tremble.
“I walk fast.”
“I’m afraid you won’t keep up.”
“Besides…”
“It’s already dark.”
“No one’s going to notice.”
And so, the two of them walked hand in hand all the way to the entrance of the state-owned restaurant.
Only after opening the door for her did He Congnan reluctantly let go.
Hmph.
I didn’t hold her hand nearly long enough.
I could’ve held it forever.
Lu Jinhuan’s cheeks were crimson.
Her bright eyes sparkled, but she was too shy to look at anyone.
The corners of her lips curved upward into a small, sweet smile.
This was…
The first time she’d ever held hands with a man.
After entering the restaurant, He Congnan simply waved toward one of the waiters before lightly guiding Lu Jinhuan farther inside.
She looked puzzled.
“Aren’t we ordering first?”
Whenever her father took her to a restaurant back home, they always had to order at the service counter before picking up the food themselves.
Was Beijing different?
“No need.”
“I come here often.”
“They already know what I eat.”
“We can just sit down.”
The state-owned restaurant only served a handful of dishes each day.
Whenever the children of the military compound came to eat, the chef simply decided the meal for them.
They only had to pay afterward.
The moment the two walked away, the restaurant staff exploded into excited whispers.
“Was that Commander He’s younger sister just now?”
“What sister?”
“When has the He family’s daughter ever come here to eat with Commander He?”
“That’s obviously his girlfriend!”
“Didn’t you see she was wearing his coat?”
“His girlfriend?”
“Oh, come on!”
“That girl looks like she’s barely an adult.”
“If you told me she was Commander He’s daughter, I’d believe you!”